Success Story: Marcus Maria Jung – Artist

Transforming Landscape into Livelihood: The Business of Art, Nature, & Entrepreneurship 

Location: Northern California | Siskiyou County | Mount Shasta 

Business Type: Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation 

CalOSBA Partners: Women’s Business Center at JEDI 

Assistance Received: Business Counseling, Credit Building, Business Planning  

California State Assembly District: 1 

California State Senate District: 1 

Visit Marus Maria Jung – Artist online. 

When Marcus Maria Jung relocated to Mount Shasta, he wasn’t just changing scenery, he was planting the seeds of a new vision. 

After decades in Los Angeles as a creative and coach for actors, Marcus felt drawn to the wild beauty and tight-knit spirit of Siskiyou County. Surrounded by towering forests and open skies, he expanded his lifelong devotion to art and nature into something ambitious: a future center for art and nature, an immersive space for workshops, retreats, and collaborative installations designed to reconnect people to creativity, community, and the environment. 

Marcus’s sculptures, photography, and site-specific installations transform landscapes into living art. But stepping fully into entrepreneurship came with new challenges. After separating from a business partner in 2023, Marcus needed to take full ownership of the financial and operational side of his business—credit building, business planning, and long-term sustainability. 

That’s when he connected with the Women’s Business Center at JEDI, part of the statewide California Women’s Business Centers Network (CA WBC).  

The CA WBC Network is California’s only coordinated, statewide economic development infrastructure designed specifically for women entrepreneurs, serving more than 17,000 clients annually through 21 Women’s Business Centers across 53 counties and reaching 88% of rural ZIP codes. While Marcus is not a woman entrepreneur, the WBC at JEDI serves diverse small businesses in rural Northern California, delivering no-cost, high-impact advising that strengthens local economies and supports creative industries. 

Through one-on-one advising and participation in the “Credit as an Asset” training, Marcus transformed uncertainty into strategy. In just five hours of individualized counseling, he built credit intentionally, refined his retreat center business plan, and positioned himself to pursue future investment opportunities with confidence. 

“The one-on-one coaching I received from JEDI has been life-changing,” Marcus shared. “Tola helped me break down what felt overwhelming into manageable steps, showing me how to use credit strategically and turn my vision into a viable business plan. Their support has been a game-changer, helping me balance the creative and practical sides of my work.” 

Now, Marcus is building the creative and financial foundation for a future center for art and nature in Mount Shasta. Through transformative art experiences, workshops, and community partnerships, his work draws visitors, deepens local engagement, and contributes to the rural economic vitality helping anchor Mount Shasta as a destination for artistic exploration and renewal. 

From forest floor installations to financial foundations, this is what happens when vision meets opportunity. 

Marcus Maria Jung is a powerful example of how small businesses in creative industries strengthen California’s rural economies—combining artistry, sustainability, and entrepreneurship to drive opportunity forward. 

To explore Marcus’s work, visit marcusmariajung.com or follow him on Instagram at @tree_souls_art and Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/marcus.m.jung/ 

If you’re an entrepreneur in rural Northern California looking for business counseling, credit building, or planning support, connect with the Women’s Business Center at JEDI for no-cost training and one-on-one advising. 

Updated: 3/13/2026